Panhalakaji Caves
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Panhalakaji Caves are situated in the
Ratnagiri Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for ...
district of
Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
state, about 160 km south of Mumbai. This cave complex has around 30 Buddhist and
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
caves. The Hinayana sect began carving caves in 3rd century AD, beginning with the
stupa A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation. In Buddhism, circumamb ...
in the current Cave 5. The caves have inscriptions in Brahmi and Devanagari script. In the 10–11th century AD another Buddhist group, a Vajrayana sect, established cave 10 with their deities ''Akshobhya'' and ''Mahachandaroshana''; and strengthened their practice in that region. ''Shiva'' and ''Ganpatya'' worshiping started at the site during
Silahara The Shilahara Kingdom (IAST: Śilāhāra; also Sinhara, Shailahara, Shrilara, and Silara) was a royal dynasty that established itself in northern and southern Konkan in 8th century CE, present-day Mumbai and Southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) du ...
rule. There are total 29 caves out of which 28 are situated on the right bank of mou tain stream Kotjai. A list of important caves includes: *Cave 10 has and image of ''Maha-Chandraroshana''. This deity is shown on the
stupa A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation. In Buddhism, circumamb ...
which signifies the connection of Ratnagiri with ancient Buddhist sites of Orissa. *Cave 14 has deities of ''Nath Pantha.'' *Cave 19 has shivlinga in it. It has
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
scriptures on its ceiling. *Cave 29 was used by ''Nath Pantha'' and was renamed as ''Gaur Lena.'' File:Cave temple at panhaalekaji.jpg, Pillars File:Shilppatta.jpg, Frieze with elephants File:Panhalakaji Caves.jpg, Stone pillar File:Panhalakaji Caves1.jpg, Stone carvings depicting various Mahasiddhas File:Panhalakaji Caves3.jpg, Stone carvings


How to reach

*By train: Nearest Rail station is Khed, Ratnagiri. *By road: Located on NH 4 highway near Dapoli.


Further reading


References


External links


Map of Panhalakaji Caves
Buddhist caves in India Caves of Maharashtra Indian rock-cut architecture Former populated places in India Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India Caves containing pictograms in India Tourist attractions in Ratnagiri district {{Buddhism-stub